Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Rejected (2)
"How can I impose like this." Xiqiu waved her hands and said, "How can I trouble you." Miaojiang is so far away, the Grand Dowager spoke as if it was easy, but in practice, it is not easy at all, considering the manpower and resources involved... how could she ever repay such a favor!
"Silly child. It’s just a small thing, no need for you to be so tense." The Grand Dowager smiled and said. Xiao Yanzheng also held Xiqiu’s hand, nodding enthusiastically, "Mother never makes empty promises. If she says she can manage it, there must be a way. Just rest assured and wait for the medicine to arrive!"
Xiqiu couldn’t refuse, and could only nod gratefully.
Tong Xiyan tilted her head to ask the Grand Dowager, "Is this medicine really so miraculous?" She thought of Madam Wang’s miscarriage after taking the Heavenly Fire Grass, and her trust in the Grand Dowager’s words increased a bit. Sixth Sister’s leg was a problem because she fell ill, and if it could be cured, she’d be happier than anyone!
Miaojiang?! In the future, when writing to Jiang Shilin, it would be good to ask him to have someone inquire about Miaojiang too.
The Grand Dowager nodded in response to Tong Xiyan’s inquiry: "Miaojiang is mountainous, foggy, and has a difficult terrain, with undeveloped customs. The medicine from the Central Plains finds it hard to penetrate there. The local Miao people developed their own Miao medicine by gathering herbs from the mountains and making prescriptions. Over time, it achieved unexpected results. Nowadays, many people go there by reputation, but Miao doctors are elusive and refuse to treat Central Plains people. Often, people return empty-handed after traveling long distances. Both the Old Marquis and I got this connection by chance; otherwise, it would be hard to acquire even for a thousand gold coins."
Tong Xiyan nodded with partial understanding, looking thoughtful.
Regarding Miao doctors, Xiqiu knew a little, but it was only hearsay, with not much understanding!
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan bid farewell to the Grand Dowager and went to Tong Xihua’s room. She was lying in bed with a not-so-good complexion. After talking with her for a while, they stood up to leave, "Sister, rest more, we will leave now." Tong Xihua half-lay on the bed, saying, "Go ahead, I feel my body is heavy today, I won’t see you off. Come again after the New Year!" Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan nodded and went out, accompanied by Xiao Yanzheng, and along with maids and servant women, headed to the second gate... Tong Shen Zhi was standing by the carriage waiting for them, Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan greeted him, Tong Shen Zhi glanced at them and, with an expressionless face, pointed to the carriage, "Get on the carriage first." After speaking, he avoided to the side, directing the servant women to load the chests and the items rewarded by the Grand Dowager onto the carriage.
After half a month of not seeing him, upon seeing Tong Shen Zhi again, she felt a sense of closeness, gave him a slight smile, and Xiqiu curtsied, "Yes!" Tong Shen Zhi was taken aback and turned around, unable to resist looking back at Xiqiu.
Xiqiu had already turned to talk to Xiao Yanzheng, "Take care of your health!" Xiao Yanzheng nodded as she held her hand, "You too, make sure to rest more!" They both shared a smile, and Xiqiu added, "It’s cold, you should head back quickly." Xiao Yanzheng intended to leave after they left, but couldn’t refuse Xiqiu’s repeated urging and returned with her maid and servant women.
In a moment, Tong Shen Zhi had everything sorted.
The carriage clattered along the road, and Xiqiu felt a bit of unease as she neared home. When they reached the second gate, seeing Madam Xia smilingly standing behind the people watching her, and seeing Tong Minzhi running over from afar to pounce on her, lifting his chubby white hand to pull her, revealing a cute smile, her eyes immediately welled up with tears. Suddenly she felt that no matter what she encountered, or how her life was, as long as they were by her side, everything would be enough!
"Sister, you are finally back. We’ve been counting each day you’ve been away and wondering when you’d return!" Xiqiu ignored the "we" in his words, merely smiling and pinching his face, "Why are you so impolite? Fourth Sister is still here."
Tong Minzhi then turned to look at Tong Xiyan, gave a slight smile and made an attempt at a formal greeting, "Hello, Fourth Sister!" Instantly transitioning from his earlier adorable playfulness, he displayed a hint of Tong Shen Zhi’s demeanor.
Tong Xiyan smiled at him, reaching out to pat Tong Minzhi’s head, "It’s only been a few days, and Seventh Brother has grown taller again." Tong Minzhi instinctively tilted his head to avoid it, and Xiqiu squinted at him with a slight smile, to which he promptly responded to Tong Xiyan’s words with a smile, "I eat lots of meals, so I naturally grow taller. Fourth Sister should eat more too, then you will grow very tall!"
His quick wit made the momentary awkwardness disappear completely. Xiqiu smiled slightly, her gaze searching among the crowd for Madam Xia, but within an instant, the spot where she had stood was empty, and Xiqiu felt a wave of sadness, letting out a heavy sigh!
"Let’s go to Mother’s place first." Tong Shen Zhi said, and then looked at the maids and servant women in the courtyard, "Disperse now!" As soon as the words fell, everyone in the courtyard scattered.
Xiqiu, Tong Xiyan, and Tong Minzhi then proceeded to Zhui Garden, where Lady was chatting with Nanny Fang. Seeing them enter, Nanny Fang came up smiling, "The young ladies have returned; the mansion feels much quieter without you." After speaking, she looked carefully at Tong Xiyan, and her smile grew even more radiant.
"Nanny Fang." Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan curtsied to Nanny Fang, who stepped aside courteously and lifted the curtains for the young ladies to enter. Tong Shen Zhi and Tong Minzhi followed in, and Lady cheerfully held Tong Xiyan’s hand, nodding repeatedly, "It’s good you’re back."
Tong Xiyan was also all smiles, "It’s more comfortable at home!"
Lady laughed, and continued, "I just wrote to your father mentioning you, and he said that if you find the mansion boring, when the new year starts, you can go stay in Yongzhou with Manager Lai accompanying you." Hearing this, Tong Xiyan’s eyes lit up, making even Xiqiu happy. But then Lady changed her tone with a smile, saying, "I refused. How could I feel assured letting you go out of town? It takes a month just to travel the road to Yongzhou, by carriage and boat—whatever the case, it’s not feasible."
Tong Xiyan slumped down, displeased, "Mother doesn’t need to worry; with Manager Lai accompanying us, plus the servant women and guards, how could anything happen?" Lady glared at her with mock anger and changed the topic, "Now that you’re back, Madam Qian will be visiting the mansion tomorrow; you should come too!"
Listening to this, Tong Xiyan’s face immediately turned pale, and Lady, without allowing her to refuse, looked at Xiqiu, "I heard the Grand Dowager rewarded you with many things?" Xiqiu nodded, and Lady continued, "Since it’s the Grand Dowager’s gift to you, keep it. You’ve grown up and don’t need me to manage everything for you; you should start learning some skills!"
Xiqiu lowered her face, obediently responding, "Daughter has made Mother worry!" Lady smiled gently, "You all have just returned and must be tired. Go and rest now. Come to my place for lunch."
"Yes!" Both Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan answered in unison, and Lady then looked at Tong Shen Zhi, "Since it’s your day off today, swing by Xuanning Marquis Mansion later to see if there’s anything you can assist your brother-in-law with!"
"Brother-in-law went to court this morning, and I have scheduled to visit tomorrow!" Lady nodded in agreement, "Okay, then rest well today. You rarely have days off."